Text © World of Showjumping

Rowan Willis’ Blue Movie (Chacco-Blue x Pilot), who placed 12th individually at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon in 2018, won the CSIO5* 1.60m Grand Prix of America in Ocala (USA) and placed second in the CP International presented by Rolex at Spruce Meadows in 2019, has been retired from the sport.

“She has done so much for me over the years,” Willis explains about the decision to retire the charming chestnut mare. “It was a hard decision not to keep competing her because she's been such a great horse to me. In the end, every horse has to retire, and I've been lucky to have an incredible career with her – she has changed my life.”

Willis – who rode for Sue and Fred Welch, the breeders of Blue Movie – has known the now 19-year-old mare her whole life. “I picked her up when she was only two weeks old,” Willis recalls about the very beginning of their story together.

With help from his parents David and Elsa Willis, his sister Renee Willis, friends Michael and Wendy Jackson and Warren Coventry, Willis managed to buy Blue Movie – or Carrots as she is called at the barn – as a 5-year-old. “She was such a difficult horse when she was younger, but I always knew she would be exceptional if I could get her on my side,” Willis tells. “It was very rewarding when I finally managed to understand her and we were able to compete successfully at top level. She was the only horse to place in the richest class in the world each year from 2018 to 2021. During her career, she placed in seven of the nine million dollar plus classes she competed in." 

Blue Movie, who did her last international appearance in April last year, has moved to Donal Barnwell and William Funnell’s Billy Stud to enjoy her retirement. “I really like the way William Funnell and the Billy Stud work,” Willis tells World of Showjumping. “I thought that's the best place for her; this way she can enjoy a good retirement and we can continue to produce young stock from her valuable bloodlines. The Billy Stud is just a great environment for young horses to reach their potential and this way her offspring can begin their career there. We have some exciting young stock on the ground and I am very much looking forward to getting out to compete on them in years to come.”

“Her going to England is actually quite sad, because I've always had her with me,” Willis – who himself is based in the US – concludes. “My groom Robert Buniowski has looked after Carrots her whole competition career, making a huge contribution to her success. I have rarely been apart from her for more than a month in the past 19 years. She will be greatly missed.” 

At World of Showjumping, we wish Carrots a very happy retirement!